Hiker, 73, found safe in Laurel Ridge State Park

DCNR says Jane Donnelly stayed warm with her dog

UPDATED 7:15 PM EDT Oct 05, 2012

SPRINGHILL TOWNSHIP, Pa. -

A 73-year-old woman was found safe Friday after she went missing overnight at Laurel Ridge State Park in Fayette County.

Officials with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said Jane Donnelly became disoriented on the Laurel Highlands hiking trail and was reported missing at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Donnelly told WTAE’s Marcie Cipriani she was hiking with her boyfriend when she decided to head back early because she had somewhere to be. That’s when she took a wrong turn.

Donnelly had her dog, Zippy, with her, and she took shelter overnight, using the animal to help keep warm until searchers found her at about 8:30 a.m.

“So, as soon as it got almost dark, I knew I had to find a little spot to hunker down, so we did, but it was damp, so I got a lot of ferns and put the fern leaves down,” said Donnelly. “I had one big apple and we split it evenly. He even ate the core.”